Dear pastor,
We hope you and your congregation are sensing gratitude and renewal as you celebrate the Easter season this year.
In gratitude and respect for all that you do, we want to share about a new Everence grant, especially for you and other pastors.
Build confidence in your financial future New Pastoral Financial Plan Grant may help
 Every month we run a deficit. We recently borrowed to repair our roof.
We got behind on IRS payments and now owe back taxes and interest.
My wife and I have college loans. We serve a small, rural congregation with limited funds. We have a young and growing family.
Do these experiences sound familiar? These paraphrased comments are from pastors whom Everence has helped improve their financial situation. Growing out of this work in recent years, we decided to create a new Pastoral Financial Plan Grant to support pastors in building more confidence about their future and getting on solid financial ground.
The $400 grant goes toward the cost of a first-year Everence financial plan. Pastors are responsible for $400 of the cost, and their congregation is responsible for $800 – half of which is reimbursed by the $400 Everence grant.
Please explore this grant if you feel you might benefit – and pass the word to other pastors who might benefit as well. Feel free to contact me about it or find more information on our website.
What you need to know about the new tax law Some charitable gifts may particularly benefit congregations
You may have heard that the new tax law could affect giving among attenders in your congregation. Yet we believe your mission will continue to be the primary force that drives giving, not whether a gift is tax deductible.
However, it's good to know that fewer people will likely receive tax deductions for their charitable gifts, but certain kinds of gifts continue to be deductible under the new law. See key point #3 in this tax bill overview.
Too many U.S. Christians associate their self-worth with their net worth
Five money mindsets: Surviving, struggling, stable, secure and surplus
By Beryl Jantzi, Everence Director of Stewardship Education
Recent research conducted by Thrivent Financial identified five distinct attitudes people have toward money. These could also be talked about as five ways people in our congregations relate to all they have and own. These financial mindsets describe how people think and feel about their financial well-being – or lack of it. Read more.
We appreciate all the opportunities we have to partner with you and your church in stewardship ministry this year!
Blessings,
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